Tohir Abduhalilovich Yuldashev (2 October 1967-27 August 2009), also known as Tohir Yo'ldosh, was a founder of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan alongside Juma Namangani.
Biography[]
Tohir Abduhalilovich Yuldashev was born in Uzbekistan, and in 1991 he co-founded the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan alongside Juma Namangani. He was an Islamist ideologue, and he co-founded the IMU with Namangani. Yo'ldosh, as he became known (in an Islamic naming fashion), succeeded Namangani as leader after his death in 2001. Ironically, although he was an Islamic rebel, he and the Taliban warned the United States of the 9/11 plot so that his group could enjoy their save-haven in Afghanistan, which could be compromised if the Al-Qaedans attacked. However, the USA experienced the attack and counterattacked, occupying Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2007 Yo'ldosh called for a counterattack to emancipate the two countries, leading to his assassination. In 2009, Yo'ldosh was targeted by a CIA predator drone in Pakistan, where he had taken refuge among the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan militants. A drone strike in Zhob severed a leg and an arm from Yo'ldosh, who was rushed to a hospital in the town. He died the next day of his wounds, and on 16 August 2010 the IMU confirmed his death.